City to pay for Alberta tennis center if needed

Friday

May 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

TUSCALOOSA | Should the operator of the proposed new tennis facility in Alberta fail to meet its obligations, the city of Tuscaloosa has agreed to foot the bill. The City Council voted this week to take over the $1.9 million annual operation costs of the facility at Jaycee Park if Tuscaloosa Tennis and Fitness LLC is unable to fulfill the role at some point in the future.

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

TUSCALOOSA | Should the operator of the proposed new tennis facility in Alberta fail to meet its obligations, the city of Tuscaloosa has agreed to foot the bill.The City Council voted this week to take over the $1.9 million annual operation costs of the facility at Jaycee Park if Tuscaloosa Tennis and Fitness LLC is unable to fulfill the role at some point in the future.The vote came at the request of the Tuscaloosa County Commission, which is assisting in funding the facility's construction but did not want to be responsible for its future operation.Tuscaloosa Tennis and Fitness was chosen by the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority to oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility once it is complete.The company is led by Tommy D. English, a former tennis player for the University of Alabama who has been in the tennis business since 1979.The city's commitment, should it be necessary, will come on top of the $2 million already pledged to complete the facility's Phase I.The County Commission has pledged the additional $1 million for a total of $3 million for the first phase, which will include a pro shop, three hard indoor tennis courts, two hard outdoor courts and 10 soft outdoor courts.The final plan will feature 26 courts — six indoor courts and 20 outdoor courts — with some courts designed smaller to accommodate children.Tuscaloosa Tennis and Fitness LLC is also working alongside the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association, which plans to invest about $400,000 in the project.Although a groundbreaking was held last week, construction will not begin in earnest until certain permissions are granted from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.PARA spokeswoman Becky Booker said an agreement with Tuscaloosa Tennis and Fitness is nearly finalized and, once that is complete, ADECA must give final approval because the Jaycee Park land was developed with a grant from the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation fund.Once ADECA gives its approval, PARA can submit bids for a construction contractor.PARA officials have said that users will be able to pay a monthly fee if they want to use the facility frequently or $10 per hour to use the courts on an hourly basis.